Conveyer



Feb. 18, 19941. W W SLOANE 2,232,081

CONVEYER Filed July 19, 1939 4 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 18, 1941. w. w. sLoANE CONVEYER Filed July 19, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 5. M ATTORNEY INVENTOR Feb. 18, 1941.

w. w. sLoANE CONVEYER 4 sneetg-shet s Filed July 19, 1939 v NToR lmu/ ATTORNEY I Feb. 18, 1941. w w SLQANE 2,232,081

CONVEYER Fired July 19, 1939 4 sneetsesheet 4 INVENTOR wan-mw 510m` BYeauA 79s.@

ATTORN EY Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE coNvEYER lll., a corporation of Illinois VApplication?. July 19, 1939, Serial No. 28'5 ,371

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in -conveyers, and more particularly to an Aarticulated train of conveyers adapted for use with loading machines and so arranged that material can be discharged from one conveyer to the other when the conveyors are in various positions of articulation, withoutproviding the usual overhanging relation or drop between the discharge and receiving conveyer. l

A prior application Serial No. 210,228, filed May 26, 1938, patented Feb. 13, 1940, No. 2,189,869, shows the same general form of conveyer train as is disclosed in my present invention. My present invention, however, diners from'my priorinvention in the arrangement for receiving the flights of the conveyer and recessing them so their tops are on a level with the bottom of the conveyer at the rear turning point thereof.

The principal object of my invention is to `provide a flexible flight receiving means at the discharge end of a conveyer, for successively receiving and recessing the flights of the conveyer beneath the bottom plate of the conveyer, so said flight receiving means may form a movable continuation of the bottom plate of the conveyer to permit the succeeding flights of the conveyer to 'move material onto another conveyer having a receiving end on substantially the same level as the first conveyer.

A more speoic object of my invention is to provide a means for transferring material from onel conveyer to another, when said conveyors are in various angular positions of adjustment with respect 4to each other, which includes a continuous flight receiving chain at the discharge end of the rst conveyer, so arranged as to receive and recess successive flights of the conveyer, so their top surfaces are substantially on a level with the upper surface of the chain, and permit the succeeding iiights of the conveyer to move material over this chain and transfer it onto a second conveyer having its receiving end on substantially the same general level as the discharge end of 'the first conveyer. -5 Other objects of my invention will appear from Vtime to time as the following specication proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a loading machine having a conveyer train constructed in accordance with my invention as a part thereof;

Figure 2 is a slightly enlarged view of the machine shown in Figure 1, with the front and rear ends thereof broken away, and with certainvparts shown in `horizontalsection;

(Cl. ISS-100) Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail plan 'view showing the discharge end of one conveyer and the receiving end of the other conveyer, with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in horizontal section;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail View in side elevation, with certain parts broken away, showing the discharge end of one conveyer and the receiving `end of the other conveyer in substantially longitudinal section;

Figure 5 .is a fragmentary transverse sectional View taken substantially along line 5-5 of Figure 3, and drawn to a slightly reduced scale;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail plan view, with parts broken away and certain other parts shown in horizontal section, showing certain details of the invention at the discharge end of one conveyer; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail longitudinal sectional view, showing certain details at the discharge end of the conveyer shown in Figure 6.

Referring now in particular to the drawings, the embodiment of my .invention illustrated is shown `in conjunction with a face loading machine which includes a wheeled truck or main frame I0, having an elevating conveyer I I projecting forwardly from the forward end thereof to the ground. Gathering mechanism I 2 is mounted on the forward end of said elevating conveyer for picking up material and depositing it onto said elevating `conveyer in the usual manner. A transfer conveyer I3 extends centrally of the machine and has its receiving end spaced rearwardly from the discharge end of said elevating conveyer. Said transfer conveyer has a discharge conveyer I5 pivotally connected to the rear end thereof, for horizontal swinging movement about a vertical shaft I6. The receiving end of said discharge conveyer `is likewise spaced rearwardly from the discharge end of said transfer conveyer. Said transfer and discharge conveyers are herein .shown as being mounted for adjustment about an axis coaxialtwith a transverse shaft I4, disposed at the forward end of said transfer conveyer, and

l herein shown as being coaxial with the aXi-s about `whichthe chains of said conveyer turn at the forward end thereof. Vertical adjustment of said `transfer and discharge conveyers is effected by a suitable adjusting mechanism generally indicated by reference character 2I, and not herein shown or described in detail since it is no part of my present invention'. Said discharge conveyer is adjustably swung about the axis -of the shaft Hi by a suitable fluid pressure cylinder I1 and piston I8 in a usual manner.

The elevating conveyer II includes an inclined forward portion 24 and a stationary discharge portion 25. Said inclined forward portion of said conveyer is mounted for vertical adjustment on trunnion supports 22, 22. Said trunnion sup ports project forwardly from a support frame 23, mounted on the truck frame I for horizontal swinging movement with respect thereto,

to permit movement of said elevating conveyer from one side of the track to the other. Said stationary discharge portion is pivotally connected to the forward end of said transfer conveyer by a vertical stud shaft 26, extending through forwardly projecting bifurcated ends 21, 21 of the frame portion of the transfer conveyer I3, and through the interengaging bifurcated ends of a bracket 28, projecting rearwardly from the rear end of said discharge portion (see Figure 4). Said stud shaft is mounted coaxial with the axis of swinging movement of the support frame 23.

The inclined portion 24 of the elevating conveyer II includes a pair of side frame members 29, V29 connected together by a bottom plate 30, and the discharge portion 25 of said elevating conveyer includes a pair of side frame members 3l, 3I connected together by a bottom plate 32.

The material moving elements of said elevating conveyer consist of a pair of spaced apart endless chains 33, 33, connected together by flights 34, 34 at suitable intervals. Said endless chains are trained around a direction changing device 35 at the front end of said conveyer, and are guided for movement upwardly therefrom along the bottom plates 3|)v and 32, around direction changing devices 36 at the rear end of said discharge conveyer, and forwardly therefrom under drive sprockets 31, 31, mounted co axially with the axis of vertical swinging movement of said inclined portion of said conveyer. Said drive sprockets are driven by a motor 20, mounted on said truck, in a suitable manner, which is no portion of my present invention so is not herein shown or described in detail.

The intermediate conveyer I3 includes a pair of side frame members 38, 38, connected together by a bottom plate 39. The material moving elements of said conveyer include a pair of spaced apart endless chains 40, 46, connected together by flights 4I, 4l at suitable intervals. A motor 42 is provided to drive said chains in a well known manner.

The discharge conveyerA I includes a pair of spaced apart side frame members 43, 43 connected together by a bottom plate 44. The material moving elements of said conveyer likewise include a pair of spaced apart endless chains 45, 45 connected together by flights 46, 46 at suitable intervals, and driven by a motor 41, in a usual manner.

A transfer plate 49 projects rearwardly from the discharge end of the elevating conveyer II and is provided to close the gap between the bottoms of the conveyers I I and I3 and forms a bottom plate along which the material may be moved while being transferred from one conveyer to the other by succeeding nights of the first conveyer. Said transfer plate overlaps a plate 50 projecting forwardly from the forward end of the intermediate conveyer I3. The gaps between the side walls of said conveyers are closed when said conveyers are in longitudinal alignment, or in various positions of articulation with respect to each other, by means of hinged closure members 5I, 5I. Said closure members are slidably guided in the respective side walls of said conveyers in a usual manner, to provide an articulated side wall connection between said conveyers (see Figures 3 and 4).

The transfer conveyer I3 is likewise provided with a rearwardly projecting transfer plate 53 which overlaps a transfer plate 54, projecting forwardly from the discharge conveyer I5. Hinged closure members 55, 55 are also slidably guided in the respective side walls of said transfer and discharge conveyers, in a suitable manner, to close the gaps between said conveyers when said conveyers are in horizontal alignment or in various positions of articulation with respect to each other.

Referring now in particular to the flexible material transferring means forming one of the novel features of my invention, which is arranged to permit material to be transferred from the elevating conveyer II onto and across the transfer plate 49 onto the transfer conveyer I3, when said elevating conveyer is in various positions of articulation with respect to said transfer conveyer, and from the transfer conveyer I3 over the transfer plate 53 and onto the discharge conveyer I5, when said discharge conveyer is in various positions of articulation with respect to said transfer conveyer, said material transferring means is similar for each conveyer, so will only be described in detail for the elevating conveyer. .-.z-l'

The material transferring means, as herein shown, includes an endless flight receiving chain 51, of such a width as to extend between the conveyer chains 33, 33 of the elevating conveyer II, and so arranged as to receive an entire flight of the conveyer. Said chain is herein shown as being supported and guided on a plurality of parallel spaced guide shoes 58, 58, for movement about the discharge end of said elevating conveyer in a predetermined path, which is determined by the path of movement of the conveyer chains 33, 33. Said guide shoes are shown as being'mounted adjacent their rear ends on a sleeve 56 mounted upon a shaft 59, which also has the rollers 36, 36 mounted thereon. The forward ends of said shoes are mounted on a shaft 60 mounted at its ends in the side frame members 3|, 3|.

The endless flight receiving chain 51 may be made from a plurality 0f separate links pivotally connected together, side by side, and in end to end relation, but, as herein shown, includes a plurality of links 6I, 8l, of a width substantially equal to the length of the flights 34, 34, .and connected together by pivotal pins 62, 62 (see Figures 6 and '7). A plurality of spaced apart inwardly extending shoes 63, 63 are herein shown as being formed integrally with each of said links. Said shoes engage and slide along the guide shoes 58, 58 and support said flight receiving chain for movement therealong. Said inwardly extending shoes are so arranged that the shoes on one link will engage every other shoe 58, and the shoes on alternate links will engage alternate shoes 58, 58.

Recessed links 64, 64, for receiving successive nights 34, 34 as they turn around the direction changing devices 35, 36, .are connected to certain links 6I, 6I of the chain 51, by means of the piv- 013911 Pins 52, 62, at Suitable intervals, depending Upon the spacing of the nights 34, 34. Said recessed links are provided with flight receiving recesses 65, 65 formed therein, open towards the bottom, to prevent clogging with coalwdust. The spacing of said recessed links'iin the ychain 5l is such that, as said nights approach` their rear turning point, they are received in the recesses V65, 6,5 and -move downwardly therein ina manner which willhereinafter more .clearly appear as this specification proceeds. l

The forward end of the transfer plate .4,9 is beveled .to overlap the rear end-of .said chain and conforms to the curvature thereof, as it turns downwardly about the rear end of the guide shoes .5.8, 58, and the forward portion of said lchain is overlapped by the rear end of the bottom plate 32 of the dischargey portion 2.5V of said elevating conveyer', which is likewise beveled to conform to the curvature of said chain aS it turns upwardly about the forward end of the guide shoes 58, 58. Said chain thus forms a continuous movable bottom between said bottom and transfer plates so as to provisie a Continuous material carrying surface from one plate to the other, to permit material to be moved by said chain and succeeding nights of the conveyer across said transfer plate onto the next succeeding conveyer.

Angles 66, 66 are secured to the inner sides of the side frame members 3l, 3| and haveinwardly projecting legs which 4engage the tops of the chains 33, 33 ,(see Figure 4c). Said angles .are provided to aid in guiding the upper runs ofthe endless chains 33, 33 in predetermined paths which are inclined downwardly towardsI the discharge end of the conveyer in such a manner that the paths of said .Chains converge into the path of the flight receiving chain 51, ,and the paths of said conveyer chains and night receiving chain are coincident as said conveyer chains turn about the rear ends of the guide shoes 58, 58. Thus, as the flights 34, 34 approach said night receiving chain, their relative movement with respect to said night receiving chain will be such that they will enter the recesses 65 of the links Sli of said night receiving chain and be completely recessed within said night receiving chain as they pass beneath the forward end of the transfer plate il@ and .turn about the shaft 59, land form a means for driving said flight receiving chain about said guide shoes.

It may thus be seen that a new and improved means of a novel construction has been provided, to permit the transfer of material from one conveyer to another conveyer, having a receiving end disposed in substantially .on the same level as the nrst conveyer, when said conveyers are in various positions of adjustment with respect to each other, and that this is effected by providing an endless night receiving chain at the discharge end of one conveyer, which extends between the chains of the conveyer and provides an uninterrupted movable bottom between the rear end of the bottom of the Vdischarge conveyer and the forward end of a transfer plate overlapping said chain, and that this night receiving chain is recessed at suitable intervals, to receive successive nights of the conveyer and recess them within said chain at their rear turning point, so that their upper surface will be on substantially the same level as the top of said transfer plate, to enable material carried by the flights of the conveyer to be moved from said night receiving chain onto said transfer plate,`and to be progressed thereacross onto the next succeeding conveyer by said night receiving chain and under propulsion from succeeding nights of the conveyor, |acting through the body of material on said transfer plate.

tween, la transfer plate Ahaving a. top surface ,forming a continuation of said conveyer, and

means permitting successive nights of the conveyer to deposit material onto said transfer plate and move it thereacross including an endless chain extending between the chains of said `conveyer e at the discharge end thereof, said chain forming a movable bottom for the discharge end `of the conveyer, and being recessed at suitable intervals, to receive successive flights of the conveyer.

2. In anapparatus of the classv described, a night conveyer including a pair of ,spaced apart Aendless chains having nights mounted therebetween, a transfer plate having a top surface forming a continuation of said conveyer, and

means permitting successive flights of the conveyer to deposit material onto said transfer plate and `move it thereacross including an endless chain extending between the chains of said conveyer at the` discharge end thereof, said chain forming a movablebottom for the discharge end of the conveyer, and being recessed at suitable intervals, to receive successive nights of the conveyer, means for guiding said flight receiving chain in a predetermined path, and means for guiding said conveyer chains in a path converging into the path of said night receiving chain,

to cause the nights of said conveyer to be recessed within said conveyer chain as they pass around the discharge end of said conveyer.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a Vflight conveyer including a pair of spaced apart endless chains. having nights mounted therebetween, a transfer plate having a top surface forming a continuation `of said conveyer, and means permitting Successive flights of the conveyer to deposit material onto said transfer plate and move it thereacross includingan endless chain extending between the chains of said conveyer at the discharge end thereof, said chain forming a movable bottom for the discharge end of the conveyer, and said chain having a recessed link to receive successive nights of the conveyer and permit said nights to drive said chain. i e

4. In an apparatus of the .class described, a

night conveyer including a pair of spaced apart endless chains having nights mounted therebetween, a transfer plate having a top surface forming a continuation of said conveyer, .and means permitting successivenights of the conveyer to deposit material onto said transfer plate and move it thereacross including an endless chain extending between the chains of said conveyer at the discharge end thereof, said chain forming a movable bottom for the discharge end of the conveyer, and forming a continuation of the upper surface of said night receiving chain, a guide shoe along which said chain moves, the path of said chain at the discharge end of said conveyer conforming substantially .to the path of travel of said conveyer chains as they turn around the discharge end of said conveyer, and said chain being rveyer and recess said flights beneath the top of said transfer plate as they pass thereby.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a flight conveyer including a bottom plate having a pair of spaced apart endless chains movable along opposite sides thereof, ights mounted between said chains at suitable intervals, a transfer plate having a top surf-ace'forming a continuation of said conveyer, and means permitting successive flights of the conveyer to deposit material onto said transfer plate and move it thereacross including an endless flight receiving chain at the discharge end of said conveyer, the width of which is substantially equal to the distance between the chains of said conveyer, a guide shoe for guiding said chain in a path conforming to the path of said conveyer chains as they turn around the discharge end of said conveyer, and said chain being recessed at suitable intervals to receive successive flights of the conveyer and form an uninterrupted movable bottom for said conveyer between said transfer and bottom plates.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a flight conveyer including a bottom plate having spaced apart endless chains movable along opposite sides thereof, spaced apart flights mounted between said chains, a direction changing device at the rear end of said conveyer about which said chains turn, a transfer plate having a forward end spaced rearwardly from the rear end of said bottom plate, and a flight receiving chain bridging the gap between said bottom plate and transfer plate and overlapped at its forward and rear ends by said bottom and transfer plates, said chain being recessed to receive successive flights of the conveyer as they pass around said direction changing member.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a flight conveyer including a bottom plate having spaced apart endless chains movable along opposite sides thereof, spaced apart flights mounted between said chains, a direction changing device at the rear end of said conveyer, about which said chains turn, a transfer plate having a forward end spaced rearwardly from the rear end of said bottom plate, and a flight receiving chain bridging the gap between said bottom plate and transfer plate, the upper run of said chain being guided for movement in a plane substantially parallel to the planes of said transfer and bottom plates and in a path substantially conforming to the path of said conveyer chains as they round said direction changing device, and said conveyer chains being guided in a path convergingy into the path of said flight receiving chain, to recess successive flights of the conveyer into said flight receiving chain upon movement of the upper runs thereof towards said direction changing device.

8. In an articulated train of conveyers, two conveyers, one of which is horizontally swingable with respect to the other, each of said conveyers including a pair of spaced apart endless chains having spaced apart flights mounted therebetween, a transfer plate disposed between said conveyers, and means permitting material to be moved onto and over said transfer plate onto said rearwardmost conveyer by succeeding flights of said forwardmost conveyer including an endless chain extending between the chains of said forwardmost conveyer, at the discharge end thereof, said last mentioned chain being recessed for receiving successive flights of said conveyer and lforming a movable bottom for said conveyer connecting the gap between said discharge conveyer and transfer plate. y

9. In an articulated train of conveyers, two conveyers, one of which is horizontally swingable with respect to the other, each of said conveyers including a pair of spaced apart endless chains having flights mounted therebetween, and means permitting material to be moved onto said rearwardmost conveyer by succeeding flights of said forwardmost conveyer including an endless flight receiving chain at the discharge end of said forwardmost conveyer, said chain being guided for movement between the chains of said conveyer and forming a movable bottom for said conveyer at the discharge end thereof, a transfer plate extending between said conveyers in substantially the same plane as said forwardmost conveyer and overlapping the rear end of said ilight receiving chain, and said flight receiving chain being recessed for receiving successive flights of said conveyer and permitting them to be recessed below the level of said transfer plate as they pass thereby, so said flight receiving chain may fo-rm an uninterrupted bottom for the conveyer adjacent said transfer plate.

10. In an articulated train of conveyers, two conveyers, one of which is horizontally swingable with respect to the other, each of said conveyers including a pair of spaced apart endless chains having spaced apart flights mounted therebetween, a transfer plate disposed between said conveyers, and means permitting material to be moved onto and over said transfer plate onto said rearwardmost conveyer by succeeding flights of the forward conveyer including an endless flight receiving chain disposed between the chains of said conveyer at the discharge end thereof, 4a guide disposed between the chains of said conveyer, for guid'mg said chain in a path coincident with the path of the conveyer chains as they turn around the discharge end 0f said conveyer, and said receiving chain being provided with spaced apart recessed portions, for receiving successive flights of said conveyer as they turn around the rear end thereof, to form an uninterrupted movable bottom for said conveyer at the discharge end thereof and permit said flight receiving chain and successive flights of the conveyer to move material onto and across said transfer plate.

11. In an articulated train of conveyers, two conveyers, one of which is horizontally swingable with respect to the other, each of said conveyers including a pair of spaced apart endless chains having flights mounted therebetween at suitable intervals, a transfer plate disposed between said conveyers, and means permitting material to be moved onto and over said transfer plate onto said rearwardmost conveyer by succeeding flights of the forward conveyer including an endless flight receiving chain lat the discharge end of said forward conveyer, the width of which is substantially equal to the distance between said conveyer chains, a guide shoe along which said flight receiving chain is guided, and a plurality of recessed links in said chain, to receive successive flights of the conveyer and permit said chain and succeeding flights of the conveyer to move material across said transfer plate and onto said intervals, a transfer plate disposed between said conveyers, and means permitting material to be moved onto and over said transfer plate onto said rearwardmost conveyer, by succeeding ights of the forward conveyer, including an endless flight receiving chain at the discharge end of said forward conveyer, the width of which is substantially equal to the distance between said conveyer chains, a guide shoe for guiding said night receiving chain in a predetermined path, a plurality of recessed links in said night receiving chain,

and said conveyer chains being guided in a path converging into the .path of said ght receiving chain, so said flights will move int-o the recessed links of said ilight receiving chain, as they move towards the discharge end of the conveyer, to permit said chain and succeeding flights of the conveyer to move material across said transfer plate and onto the discharge end of said rearwardmost conveyer.

' WILLIAM W. SLOANE. 

